, 1887-12-14
The Postal Telegraph Bill.

ASIIINGTON Dec. l3.-lhe postal
telegraph bill introduced by Senator Cul,
lom to-day establishes a United States
postal telegraph as part Of the postal sys-
TEN of the United States. and for the pur-
pose of inaugurating the system it pro
vides that the following telegraph trunk
lines shall first be constructed
Ono from Washington to Portland, Me.
via Baltimore, Arlington, Philadelphia,
Camden, Trenton, Newark, jersey City,
New York, Brooklyn, New Haven, Hart
ford, Providence and Boston.
One from Washington to Minneapolis,
via Pittsburg, Cleveland, Toledo, Chicago,
Milwaukee, Madison, Lacrosse and st.
Paul.
One from New York city to Cleveland,
o., Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo,
Erie, Pa.
One from Pittsburg to Topeka, Kas.
via Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis,
ST. Louis and Kansas City.
One from Toledo to Detroit.
One from Washington to Galveston via
Richmond, Charlotte, Columbia, Augusta,
and Atlanta, Montgomery and New Or
leans.
One from Chicago to New Orleans via
indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Mem.
pms auu ' lShSDulB.
One from Chicago to st. Louis via
Peoria and Springfield.
One from Chicago to San Francisco via
Des Moines, Omaha, Cheyenne, Salt Lake
City, Carson City and other towns en-
route, and one from Cheyenne to Denver.
Postal telegraph offices are to be opened
at the places named, and at all intcrmedi-
ate points at which first, second or third
| aioso post nfInaS oro nGtablIshaH
The branch lines, it provides, shall be
constructed from time to time, as appro-
p%riation is therefor made by congress, the
intention being to connect the lines with
all cities where postal and free delivery
system prevails, but no additional facili-
ties will be provided in states already con-
nected with trunk lines until the postal
telegraph offices have been established in
| every state and territory. The system is
to be constructed on straight lines as near
as practicable. but regard is to be taken
of cities that will afford the best tele-
graphic facilities to the public. Lines are
to be constructed by the engineer corps of
the army and then transferred to the Gus
tody of the postmaster general.
The poles are to be of iron, the wires of
copper and all other materials of the best
character. Eight wires are to be strung
on the line from New York to Chicago,
and four upon the other lines. The sec
rotary of war is authorized to use the
military service lines of the United States
as far as expedient, and also to make all
necessary condemnatlons of lands or build
ings at fair compensation, all disputes as
to what is fair compensation to be settled
by the court of claims. The secretary is
further authorized to construct, take and
use all machinery and devices not includ-
ing telegraph lines, whether patent or not,
as shall be deemed necessary, compensa-
ton to be determined in the same manner
as the condemnation of land.
Sums of money necessary for this pur-
pose are appropriated by the bill. A
rate Of ten cents for each twenty words,
and five cents for each additional ten
words is fixed for distances of under 500
miles, and an additional rate of five
cents for each $50 miles over 500. A
night rate of thirty-ive cents and a day
rate Of IS cents is fixed for each 100 words
transmitted for newspapers, except where
the same dispatches are dropped off at
more than one office, when the rates shall
be fifteen and twenty-five cents res
pectively for each dropped copy.
The office of director general Of tcle-
graphs is created as a part of the post
Office department. 1t is made the duty
of the postmaster general to report to
congress after the passage of the act.
A plan for the complete organization
Of the postal telegraph system, with de,
tailed estimates of the men and money
needed before the system is put into exc
cution and the employees selected, exami-
nations are to be held by the civil service
commission to determine the fitness OF
applicants. -Four million dollars is appro
priated for the location and construction
of telegraph lines provided by the act,